Addressing pandemic-related disruptions for vulnerable children and youth

Dr. Tzu-fen Chang contributes to an article for the Society in Research in Child Development

By California State University, Bakersfield

September 30^th, 2020

“I am very pleased to announce that Dr. Tzu-fen Chang, assistant professor in the Department of Child, Adolescent, and Family Studies (CAFS) has recently contributed to a five-part Statement of Evidence Volume publication on the short- and long-term impact of educational, employment, family, and personal pandemic-related disruptions for vulnerable children and youth,” said Dr. Elaine Correa, professor and chair for the CAFS department.

Dr. Chang’s contribution was included in an article entitled, “Addressing Inequities in Education During the COVID-19 Pandemic: How Education Policy and Schools Can Support Historically and Currently Marginalized Children and Youth,” featured in the September 2020 issue of the Society for Research in Child Development (SRCD) publication.

The SRCD publishes three journals, as well as the Social Policy Report. Their mission is “rooted in an understanding of child development as an integrated part of lifelong development that takes place in complex and interrelated contexts.”

It is based on a belief that in order to create reliable, valid, and useful knowledge, developmental science must explore a diverse array of biological, cognitive, psychological, social, and cultural dimensions of development through rigorous scientific inquiry that uses multiple perspectives, methods, and levels of analysis.

“It is my pleasure to contribute to this policy brief that highlights educational and mental health related challenges facing Asian American children and youth during the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Dr. Tzu-fen Chang.

As a scholar in child development, Dr. Chang has always believed that it is important to bridge connections between scientific evidence and policy in child development.

“During the pandemic, Asian American children and youth are faced with many challenges in terms of psychological health and education,” said Dr. Chang.

Through the publication of the policy brief, Dr. Chang said she was able to showcase the challenges children experience and provide “a number of practice and policy recommendations for educators, policymakers and parents to consider.”

“I am glad that my publication can promote the public’s understanding of potential risks facing Asian American children and youth during the pandemic as well as policy actions that can be taken in order to promote their well-being,” said Dr. Chang.

The brief that Dr. Chang contributed to highlights a number of implications that educators and policymakers can apply to educational policy making and K -12 school settings.

“Dr. Chang’s contribution specifically addresses concerns relating to Asian Americans in the United States. Given the concerns that have been raised by faculty relating to social justice, (cultural taxation, discrimination, campus climate), I wanted to identify CSUB’s efforts to provide some positive steps that are being taken by different faculty members to respond to the critical challenges and issues confronting our community,” said Dr. Correa.

Dr. Chang added that “School and community leaders must proactively address COVID-19-related social stigma and discrimination, take steps to ensure Asian American children’s psychological and physical safety, and address social-emotional and academic needs.”

Furthermore, “Through the publication of the policy brief, I believe that educators and policymakers can have a better understanding of the challenges facing the Asian American population. Moreover, they can brainstorm possible solutions and take substantial actions for improving well-being of Asian American children and youth during the pandemic and in the future,” said Dr. Chang.

“In a small way, each of us, collectively and individually, may be using our platforms to raise awareness and provide solutions. It might help our minority faculty to know that even in silent spaces where individuals struggle, efforts are being made to improve processes at every level,” Dr. Correa concluded.